For the first season ever, I’ve been watching Dancing With The Stars namely because of two characters (yes, they are characters): Bristol Palin and Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino from MTV’s Jersey Shore. I have no…well, maybe a little…shame about it, ABC knows how to draw in viewers.

If you watch the show, you’ll notice that Bristol Palin is always introduced as a “teen activist” for her work promoting abstinence. We are all hyper-aware of the inherent irony of Bristol coming out as a staunch advocate of abstinence-until-marriage, considering she is the unwed mother of a toddler. Now for more comic relief, she has teamed up with her randy DTWS co-star, promiscuous panty-chaser “The Situation,” for a new safe sex public service announcement sponsored by The Candies Foundation (which signed on Bristol as a spokeswoman last year).

I want to warn you that this video is painful to watch, make sure you are sitting down and that there are no loose objects hanging around for you to throw.

In theory, there is a positive message here in that they are supporting a spectrum of sexual choices, abstinence until marriage and safer sex for those who are not going to abstain. But in reality, this is a hot mess. Just as it is ridiculous for Bristol to be proudly touting her abstinence-only messages, it is completely insane for “The Situation” to be waving around Magnums for the last 30 seconds of the clip. I kid…kinda. Let me be shallow for a second: I’m simultaneously grossed out and entertained at his insistence that he needs such large condoms. A tip for Mr. Situation: those who use them (because they need them) usually aren’t the ones bragging about it.

I take issue with “The Situation” being repeatedly rewarded for being a misogynist. Besides his book deals, magazine covers and TV appearances all based on his abs and skills with “smooshing” drunk women, he is now a sexual health s? The guy who termed the word “grenades?” (Translation: an ugly woman who hangs with a hot girlfriend.) Yes, he makes for “good” TV by garnering ratings and being outrageously obnoxious, and I admit that I have been wooed by his foolishness (for analysis purposes, I swear!). However, the juxtaposition of the “chaste” Bristol Palin against the man-whore image of “The Situation” is troublesome. It accentuates gender stereotypes; women should be good asexual beings but men are allowed to be lascivious dogs…as long as they use condoms! Make ’em Magnums at that.

I’m also tired of having Bristol Palin’s brand of abstinence shoved down my throat. It feels disingenuous and contrived. I support candid discussion of the difficulties of teen pregnancy and teen motherhood. I think it’s wonderful to encourage young people to be thoughtful and safe when they decide to be intimate with a partner. I’m okay with the idea of abstinence for young people, if it’s framed in a way that sex is not dirty or shameful, but that sex is powerful. So Bristol (and Mama), when are you gonna give it a rest? Abstinence clearly did not work for you. And since you want to be seen as just another normal teenager, then let’s be realistic in saying that abstinence is not going to work (and hasn’t worked) for a majority of teens either.

Brisal Palin continues in the family tradition of hypocracy. As far as Mike waving around his borrowed Magnums, that looks like a typical case of overcompensation. He is using one of the oldest attempts to interest women by claiming some extra equipment, or perhaps he suffers from STD induced abnormal swelling.

saltyc

And how about the fact that the most likely result of using an oversized condom is condom failure, which is no joke.

mechashiva

When I first saw this clip, I thought the guy was just another parody-actor. That’s “The Situation?” I never watched Jersey Shore, but I’ve seen parodies… THAT’S the guy who thinks he’s so hot? HA, I say, HA HA!

beenthere72

Yuck, I feel dirty just watching that.

pheasantweber

I totally agree with your blog. I think it is very important to have comprehensive conversations about all the different options out there. Abstinence should of course be discussed, but also condoms and birth control. And I’ll admit I resisted Jersey Shore for longer than a year but recently gave in and it is pretty horrible how they judge women so harshly. Its a cute DWTS coupling for a commercial and hey its got people talking, so hopefully it can make some sort of positive impact. Nice blog!

plume-assassine

Why is Bristol Palin so famous just because she got TEEN PREGNANT LOLZ? It’s pretty sad because that’s the only reason she’s famous. Other politicians’ kids aren’t in the limelight as much as she’s been. I guess it’s because of the level of hypocrisy in the family.

So, she made her choice to have sex without protection, and to have a kid, and now she regrets it. And not only that, she’s trying the same tactic (abstinence-only) that failed to protect her in the first place, in order to prevent a repeat pregnancy? “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

It’s also funny how “The Situation” says to her, around .48-.50, “you’ll get in a situation, and you may not like that situation.” woops. too late. already happened.

Anyway, it’s nice that they are representing different sexual choices, but Bristol isn’t exactly a good example that abstinence-only works, and the Situation isn’t a good example of people who choose to have “”pre-marital”” safe sex …because we’re not all ultra-promiscuous womanizing fake-tanned misogynist douchnozzles. It just looks like a foil character comedy routine.